Student focus groups on perceptions of extremism

25 October 2013

Camden and Westminster Councils are extending an open invitation to UCL students to attend a focus group about their perceptions of extremism in January 2014.

The councils wish to gather the views of students who study or live in the boroughs about their perceptions of extremism. This
research, which is funded by the Home Office, will provide evidence to support
the Government's
2011 Prevent Strategy, which aims
to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

This research will explore perceptions of all formsof extremism, including far-right extremism and some aspects of non-violent extremism. In
particular the groups will examine how students currently understand and
interpret the language of the Prevent
agenda (including the terms extremism, radicalisation and violent
extremism) and their views on the ideology, people and spaces at risk of
extremism. This research forms part of a wider body of work to understand the
perceptions and management of extremism at higher education institutions.

The Office for Public Management (OPM) is an independent research
agency, which will run three focus groups with students to explore these
perceptions. The focus groups are scheduled for early January 2014 and will be held
at OPM offices (near King's Cross).

The agency guarantees that all participant views will remain confidential and
reported anonymously, and is offering an incentive of £15 of
high street vouchers for each participant, to be paid on the day of the group.

To register interest in attending the groups, or for more information
please contact Emma Blythebefore 13 December 2013.

In your email, please state your age, year of
your UCL course and any days/times of the week that are not convenient for you
to attend a group. The agency might ask for more information before confirming your
place in one of the groups and the details of the timings and
venues.